| Natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and | | | | variety of sizes and colors including high visibility colors |
| tornadoes can devastate a community without | | | | such as Yellow, Red and Green. The high visibility |
| warning. Rescue workers must respond to these | | | | colors have proven to be beneficial to medical |
| incidents by being prepared with the necessary tools | | | | responders and are often used in triage situations. |
| and resources to help those in need. Aside from | | | | Triage is initiated during mass casualty incidents. |
| medical equipment and supplies, emergency | | | | Medical and emergency responders must act quickly |
| responders require designated areas for which | | | | to help those in need and to be able to prioritize injuries |
| operations can be launched and victims can be | | | | based on severity. To accomplish this task, responders |
| assisted. One vital role in emergency operations, which | | | | use different colors to sort out victims based on |
| is often overlooked, is the use of tarps. | | | | injuries and treatment needs. The high visibility tarps |
| Tarps have a wide variety of uses during emergency | | | | are placed on the ground and used during these triage |
| situations including canopy covers for relief tents, | | | | situations. The four primary colors used for triage are |
| protection for roofing after hurricanes, debris covers, | | | | Green, Yellow, Red and Black. |
| and are also used in triage. In recent years the use of | | | | In addition to medical response and distribution, tarps |
| tarps played a significant role in the recovery efforts | | | | are also a valuable asset in the aftermath of a natural |
| of major hurricanes such as Katrina. The tarps were | | | | disaster. The clean up process after a natural disaster |
| primarily used to cover damaged rooftops both before | | | | can go on for years depending on the severity. Tarps |
| and after the hurricane. Large quantities of tarps were | | | | are greatly beneficial during the construction process |
| distributed by government agencies to citizens | | | | of rebuilding. As a multi purpose cover, tarps can be |
| affected by the storms aftermath. The tarps acted as | | | | used on slopes to prevent erosion as well as, used as |
| temporary protection until professional repairs could be | | | | debris covers and protection for supplies and |
| made. These temporary roofing repairs diverted water | | | | equipment. The heavy-duty polyethylene material is |
| away from damaged areas and prevented further | | | | durable yet lightweight, which allows workers to use |
| damage from occurring. | | | | the tarps repeatedly as well as, easily move the tarp |
| Tarp covers can be used for numerous applications | | | | covers from one location to another. |
| due to the characteristics of the material. The | | | | During a natural disaster many resources are used to |
| composition of polyethylene is naturally rot proof and | | | | help those in need. There are many obvious resources |
| mildew proof as well as, lightweight. The laminated | | | | that take part in these efforts as well as many smaller |
| surface of the tarps makes the product waterproof | | | | resources that must not be overlooked. Tarps have |
| while at the same time provides a UV protective | | | | been a beneficial asset in past operations and will |
| barrier. Moreover, each cover contains grommets | | | | continue to play a vital and important role in future |
| every eighteen inches, which are used to secure the | | | | emergency recovery efforts. |
| tarp to stable objects. Tarp covers are available in a | | | | |